BMI overweight?

I'm 5'3 and around 135 give or take what I've eaten and such.

My BMI is borderline overweight and my doctor said I could easily afford to lose a few pounds according to what the "ideal weight" is for my heihgt.

However, I wear a US dress size 2-4 and jean size 4-6 depending on the store.

(My measurements are: 36-26.5-37.5)

How could I ever weigh the "ideal weight of 118" and still be healthy?

Does anyone else feel this is an issue?

BMI can be off a bit if you have a bit of muscles.
Do you have any health issues, such as diabetes, that would make him cocerned about your weight?

Do you have more muscle than the average woman?  If so, that could easily account for your smaller size.  Going by just BMI is never a good idea.  Consider consulting another doctor if you disagree with the assessment of the first one.

im confused as well, ive been told i should be at least 55kg, but everyone i know is like 50kg or under.....its annoying!

ive given up on 'whats normal' and follow what i feel is right for ME

spoiled_candy: I do not have any health issues that made her concerned. She just told me based on this government chart I needed to lose weight.

smwhipple: My mother's side of the family naturally has more muscular legs and such, but I'm definitely no body building type.

I just think the government has set up completely arbitray numbers for weight based on height. They don't take account any differences in bone denisty, or the weight of different organs, or even simply just the different body structures. It's just depressing to hear such numbers to be compared to.

im not allowed to be under 55kg(120ish) but my bf is healthily maintaining 45kg(100pound) although i personally think he is small and a bit underweight looking, but he has grown and is gaining, soooo we'll see.

it also has to do with how much your stomach can take and how youve trained it, im used to large portions while he eats very little througout the day, i remember him telling me once, that as a child he was a bugger to feed always wanted to play...so i guess he didnt grow to potential but his body is adapted to living healthily like that?

just base yourself with whatevers comfortable and what your doctor has said

genes, inner organs, weight distribution and metabolism are all huge roles in  healthy weight ranges. healthy isnt black and whtie, it doesnt have a decimal point, be happy :)

A healthy BMI in medical terms is between 20 and 25.  It's a range rather than a spot weight to reflect the fact that people are not one uniform build or shape....   If you're 5'3 you can be anything from about 114 to 140lbs to be in the healthy range.... which you are already.  So if you don't want to lose weight, don't feel you have to.  If you do want to  lose a few pounds, you can.  However, there is no 'ideal weight'...

There is no such thing as an 'ideal weight'! Your bmi is 23.9 which is right slap bang in the middle of the 'healthy' range, so there is no way you are overweight especially since you're wearing a size 4! If your doctor thinks you need to lose weight, she's talking out her ass! (scuse the language).

I agree. The BMI charts are weird. My BMI is 26.5 at 205 and 6'2". To reach my ideal BMI charts recommend I get to 150lbs!! How rediculous is that? I would look like I had anorexia. 55lbs lighter than I am now? I walk 2-4 miles a day...stay around 1900 calories...do everything healthy....lift weights. How could I possibly get to 150 without becoming seriously ill?

Miket43.  Don't panic!  There is no 'ideal BMI'..... if you're 6'2" once you get to about 13st 12lbs (194lbs) you're at the top end of the healthy BMI range.  150lbs would be a BMI of about 20 which is the minimum healthy weight for someone that height.

If you aim for 194lbs it means you're currently only 10lbs or so overweight.  Good news....

Before I started dieting I was at the exact same stats as you.

I did carry a lot more weight in my midsection then you appear to be, though.

My only advice is that you should eat healthy, exercise, and not really pay so much attention to the actual lbs. Your body will regulate your weight and fall naturally where you are supposed to be. From your measurements you don't sound as if you are carrying a lot of fat on you.

BMI isn't always accurate. You do fall within the healthy range, just make sure your lifestyle reflects your goals.

Good luck!

a bmi is a mass calculator as in its not only based on weight but also a large group of people- and some dont fall into it exactly as all our bodies are different. if you feel good about your self and are in good shape physically medically etc. then i wouldnt be concerenced about it.

Thoes stupid charts also don't take into account Ethnicity as African Americans (as well as other ethnicities) tend to be heavier and Asians tend to be lighter, And both can be completely healthy.

I am basically in you same exact shoes. I am now 129 lbs. I always used to be below 120 lbs and let me tell you I looked GREAT. I was a not a size zero, between 2-4 and non of this chub that I am dealing with now, making my jeans look weird. 118 IS HEALTHY...in fact you will love yourself even more when you achieve that weight...anything is better then over 125 lbs. To achieve, limit yourself to 1600 cals, do alot of stretches, muscle toning exercises and if you can...swim....in fact that is my # 1 fav excersice...it does all the cardio and toning in 1....but I dont do that anymore ever since I left California.  My doctor said I was overweight, actually when she said that it motivated me. I admit it now, im chubby especially in my leg area and butt.  Good luck, and trust me you can be very healthy and be 118 lbs.

BMI charts are sometimes a bummer. I've looked at all kinds of BMI calculators and everyone goes from "overweight" to "healthy" never really looking into my muscle mass, and I have a great deal of it in my legs and butt.

It gets depressing. I don't think theres anything wrong with your size, but this is coming from someone who would kill at this point to be at your weight :)

Melissa

BMI calculators are just an guide, they don't take into account ur muscle mass, age or frame size.  Your numbers sound like u might be fine.  If your insurance will cover it or you have the $$ you might want to get you body fat % done.  The most accurate way that I know of is when they submerge you in the tub of water.  If you can't do that a good hand held one or high quality scale might would be a more accurate picture then just a chart based off height weight and averages.

Good luck.

I'm 5'1" and probably close to borderline overweight at 131.  I look okay, but am trying to get down to 120ish so that I can fit into my clothes again (I'm an emotional eater and it's been a stressful year).  Right now, I wear anything from a US size 4 to 8 depending on the brand. 

BMI is a notoriously unreliable measure of health.  In fact, a few years ago they actually lowered the "healthy" range.  Overnight, a bunch of people who were formerly "healthy" were suddenly "overweight"!

Here is a photo group that illustrates the extreme variability of BMI:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77367764@N00/sets/72157602199008819/

Original Post by gi-jane:

Miket43.  Don't panic!  There is no 'ideal BMI'..... if you're 6'2" once you get to about 13st 12lbs (194lbs) you're at the top end of the healthy BMI range.  150lbs would be a BMI of about 20 which is the minimum healthy weight for someone that height.

If you aim for 194lbs it means you're currently only 10lbs or so overweight.  Good news....

Excellent point! gi-jane 

I think a lot of confusion comes from grabbing the number at the extreme end of the BMI, the range is there for a reason. 

Even still the BMI is a basic, rough estimator and I would much prefer tests that account for bone density and muscle mass, as mab0192 stated earlier.

Original Post by caitmarie:

I am basically in you same exact shoes. I am now 129 lbs. I always used to be below 120 lbs and let me tell you I looked GREAT. I was a not a size zero, between 2-4 and non of this chub that I am dealing with now, making my jeans look weird. 118 IS HEALTHY...in fact you will love yourself even more when you achieve that weight...anything is better then over 125 lbs. To achieve, limit yourself to 1600 cals, do alot of stretches, muscle toning exercises and if you can...swim....in fact that is my # 1 fav excersice...it does all the cardio and toning in 1....but I dont do that anymore ever since I left California.  My doctor said I was overweight, actually when she said that it motivated me. I admit it now, im chubby especially in my leg area and butt.  Good luck, and trust me you can be very healthy and be 118 lbs.

Eh...just because this is the point where you feel best about yourself and think this is where you look best doesn't mean that it's true for everyone. From what the OP said about her stats and measurements, she seems fine with how she is now.

To the OP: Is there any chance that your doctor is Asian? :p In my experience, they usually have ridiculous ideas on ideal weight. I'm 5'3 as well and 130-ish pounds and I get told that I should lose more as well which is actually quite negligent seeing as how I have a history of disordered eating, but that's beside the point. If you're happy with how you are now, there's really no need to lose any more weight. Even within the BMI range (as flawed as if may be), you're still well within the healthy range. Perhaps consider finding another doctor.

A better indication as to whether you are overfat or not is your stomach measurement...if your stomach is 33" or larger than chances are you're too fat and you need to lose weight. Also you might want to get your body fat % checked out.

I know many people who are the exact opposite of you...they have seemingly 'good' BMIs of 23-24 but they wear size 33, size 34 jeans, that can't be good at all. Me myself, I'm pretty small framed with less bone and muscle tissue, so I'd be overfat at a BMI of above 23.5...some people have heavier bones, wider body frame, and more muscle tissue, so they'd naturally be heavier even though they might be wearing the same dress size as someone who's 'lighter' than they are. There's no way you need to go down to 118...you're already a size 4 now, and that's my dream dress size right now...when I had your stats I was around 132 pounds, and I'm 2 and a half inches taller than you are...if you're gonna lose anymore weight, don't lose more than 10 pounds.

Thank you everybody for your posts!

To gadzooks: My doctor was not asian but I happen to be Italian. As mentioned by another poster, groups such as Italians can typically have a heavier bottom without necessarily being "fat"